Between Two Worlds

Marianne Winckler (Juliette Binoche) is a well-known author who goes to live in northern France to research for a new book about job insecurity. Without revealing her real identity, Marianne is hired as a cleaner, working with a group of other women, and experiences financial instability and social invisibility first-hand. But she also discovers mutual assistance and solidarity, strong bonds shared by these disregarded working women. ‘Binoche’s naturalistic performance marries itself beautifully to the ensemble while grounding, in reality, a character unbelievable, yet true.’ (The Playlist)

Florence Aubenas didn’t want her book to be adapted. Many people took an interest in it, but they abandoned the idea. Juliette Binoche, who really wanted to play the lead role, showed her usual persistence. Our initial adaptation work culminated in a screenplay written with Hélène Devynck. After much trial and error, we went from an adaptation very close to the book to this dramatic issue: the idea of a friendship formed in a closer and more intimate way than the others, whereas in the book there’s companionship, a very strong work camaraderie, but no intimate bond. So I chose to develop this bond, this friendship, and its consequence: the feeling of betrayal when the protagonist reveals who she is.

Emmanuel Carrère, Director